Mission certification quiz for fundraising campaign

ABSTRACT

A web-based mission certification quiz for educating various persons involved in a fundraising campaign is disclosed. A web-based method for educating solicitors, donors, participants and others involved in a fundraising campaign about the campaign&#39;s mission includes providing, on a website, information about the campaign&#39;s mission, taking, on the website, a mission certification quiz by answering one or more questions, wherein the questions are designed to test a participant&#39;s knowledge about the campaign&#39;s mission. The method further includes determining a final score based on the number of correct answers, and creating a mission certificate on the website based on the final score. The method includes starting a timer prior to presenting the question, the timer being set for a predetermined amount of time allowed for each question, providing a question, selecting an answer to the question, wherein the answer is selected from one or more answers provided, and if a correct answer is selected before the expiration of the timer, then only awarding a score for each correct answer. The method further includes determining if there are additional questions in the quiz, and if there are additional questions in the quiz, then answering the questions, and if the are no remaining questions in the quiz, then determining a final score, determining a grade on the basis of the final score, and indicating the final score and the grade on the mission certificate.

BACKGROUND

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention is an interactive, web-enabled method andsystem for educating solicitors, donors, participants and other personsinvolved in a fundraising campaign about the campaign's mission. Morespecifically, the invention is a web-based mission certification quiz toeducate various persons involved in a fundraising campaign. The presentinvention provides a convenient means for educating persons involved ina campaign about the campaign's mission, which can result in increaseddonations.

[0003] 2. Related Art

[0004] This application is related to a prior application titled “SYSTEMAND METHOD FOR INTERACTIVE FUNDRAISING OVER A WIDE AREA NETWORK”, filedDec. 12, 2000, Attorney Docket No. 0001.US00. The subject matter of theprior application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

[0005] Charitable, nonprofit and other organizations often raise moneythrough fundraising campaigns. It is necessary that these organizationseffectively communicate their fundraising mission to potential donors.It is also important that solicitors that seek donations on behalf ofthe organizations are well informed about the campaign's mission.

[0006] Solicitors who are not well informed about the campaign's missioncannot effectively communicate with potential donors. Solicitors oftenface many questions from potential donors about the campaign's mission.If solicitors are unable to provide satisfactory answers to the queries,potential donors will be skeptical about the fundraising mission. Also,if solicitors appear to be not well informed about the mission,potential donors may wonder whether the solicitor represents alegitimate charity. An ill-informed solicitor will be less successful inconvincing a potential donor to make a contribution. Thus, it isnecessary that solicitors and others involved in a fundraising campaignare well informed about the mission and are able to provide satisfactoryanswers to all queries.

[0007] It is also believed that potential donors who are well informedabout the campaign's mission are more likely to make a charitabledonation. Thus, if potential donors can be efficiently and convenientlyeducated about the campaign's mission, they can be more influenced tomake a donation. Thus, it is desirable to educate potential donors aboutthe campaign's mission.

[0008] There are usually no convenient and user-friendly means foreducating solicitors, donors and others about a fundraising campaign'smission. For example, there are usually no convenient and user-friendlyprocess to educate participants of charity walks, runs, biking events,and other fundraising events, except for providing literature in theform of handouts and brochures. However, recipients of the handouts areoften not motivated to read the information. Also, people often jointhese events for athletic reasons, and need to be enticed to learn aboutthe charitable cause.

[0009] Lack of user-friendly and convenient means for educating aboutthe campaign's mission often results in ill-informed solicitors anddonors. It is believed that solicitors will be more successful infundraising if they are well informed. Also, it is believed thatpotential donors will be more willing to donate to charitable causes ifthey are well informed about the mission.

[0010] Accordingly, there is a need for a method and system by whichnonprofit, charitable and other organizations can effectivelycommunicate their fundraising mission to potential donors. There is aneed for a method and system by which such organizations can educatepotential donors about various causes that benefit from their support.There is also a need for a method and system that educates solicitorsthat seek donations on behalf of the organizations about the campaign'smission. There is a need for a method and system that assures potentialdonors that the solicitors are well informed and represent legitimateorganizations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The invention is a web-based mission certification quiz foreducating various persons involved in a fundraising campaign. Inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention, a web-based method foreducating solicitors, donors, participants and others involved in afundraising campaign about the campaign's mission, includes providing,on a website, information about the campaign's mission, taking, on thewebsite, a mission certification quiz by answering one or morequestions, wherein the questions are designed to test a participant'sknowledge about the campaign's mission. The method further includesdetermining a final score based on the number of correct answers, andcreating a mission certificate on the website based on the final score.

[0012] In one embodiment, the method includes starting a timer prior topresenting the question, the timer being set for a predetermined amountof time allowed for each question, providing a question, selecting ananswer to the question, wherein the answer is selected from one or moreanswers provided, and if a correct answer is selected before theexpiration of the timer, then only awarding a score for each correctanswer. The method further includes determining if there are additionalquestions in the quiz, and if there are additional questions in thequiz, then answering the questions, and if the are no remainingquestions in the quiz, then determining a final score, determining agrade on the basis of the final score, and indicating the final scoreand the grade on the mission certificate. In one embodiment, theinvention allows participants to retake the test in order to improvetheir score. In one embodiment, the method allows a participant toreturn to a previous question even if he had previously selected anincorrect answer for that question.

[0013] The method further includes determining one or more topperformers among the plurality of participants of the missioncertificate quiz based on the final scores, and acknowledging the topperformers. The method further includes determining, if a correct answeris received before the expiration of the timer, the amount of time takento answer the question. The method further includes awarding prizes orsweepstakes to the top performers.

[0014] In one embodiment, teams comprising a plurality of participantsmay participate in an event organized to raise money for a charitablecause. The participants can take the mission certification quiz, and theteams, rather than individual participants, are ranked based on thescores. The system recognizes the top teams based on the scores. In oneembodiment, the system measures the amount of time taken to answer thequestions, and recognizes the top performers (individuals and teams)based on the amount of time taken to complete the quiz.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] For a more complete understanding of the present invention andthe advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following briefdescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings anddetailed description, wherein like reference numerals represent likeelements, in which:

[0016]FIG. 1 is a high-level flow diagram illustrating the basicsequence of the method steps of the invention;

[0017]FIG. 2 is an exemplary donation page that includes informationabout the participant, the fundraising event and a mission certificate;

[0018]FIG. 3 is an exemplary web page illustrating mission certificationquiz;

[0019]FIG. 4 shows the total number of questions in the quiz, the numberof correct answers, and the accumulated score;

[0020]FIG. 5 is a detailed flow diagram of the method steps of theinvention; and

[0021]FIG. 6 is a system level diagram comprising one or more web pages604.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Turning first to the nomenclature of the specification, thedetailed description that follows is represented largely in terms ofsystem block diagrams, processes and symbolic representations byconventional computer components, including a processor associated witha general-purpose computer system, memory storage devices for theprocessor, and connected display devices. These operations include themanipulation of data bits by the processor and the maintenance of thesebits within data structures residing in one or more of the memorystorage devices. Such structures impose a physical organization upon thecollection of data bits stored within computer memory and representspecific electrical or magnetic elements. These symbolic representationsare the means used by those skilled in the art of computer programmingand computer construction to most effectively convey teachings anddiscoveries to others skilled in the art.

[0023] For the purpose of this discussion, a participant refers to aperson who selects to take a quiz administered in accordance with theinvention. A participant may be engaged in a fundraising campaign tobenefit a nonprofit, charitable or other organization. A participant maybe a person who is not engaged in the fundraising effort, butnevertheless wishes to take the quiz for fun, pride, prize or to learnabout the mission of the fundraising campaign. A participant can be asolicitor or a donor. For the purpose of this discussion, a solicitorrefers to a person or an organization soliciting a potential donor or anorganization for a charitable donation. The solicitor may be avolunteer, an agent or an employee of a charitable, nonprofit or otherorganization. The solicitor may be a commercial fundraiser or an agentor employee thereof engaged for the purpose of assisting a charitable orother organization in its fundraising campaign. A donor refers to aperson or an organization that makes a charitable donation.

[0024] Also for the purpose of this discussion, a process or method isgenerally conceived to be a sequence of computer-executed steps leadingto a desired result. These steps generally require manipulations ofphysical quantities. Usually, although not necessarily, these quantitiestake the form of electrical, magnetic, or optical signals capable ofbeing stored, transferred, combined, compared or otherwise manipulated.It is conventional for those skilled in the art to refer to thesesignals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers,records, files or the like. It should be kept in mind, however, thatthese and some other terms should be associated with appropriatephysical quantities for computer operations, and that these terms aremerely conventional labels applied to physical quantities that existwithin and during operation of the computer.

[0025] In addition, it should be understood that the systems andprocesses described herein are not related or limited to any particularcomputer, apparatus, or computer language. Rather, various types ofgeneral purpose computing machines or devices may be used with programsconstructed in accordance with the teachings described herein.Similarly, it may prove advantageous to construct a specializedapparatus to perform the method steps described herein by way ofdedicated computer systems with hardwired logic or programs stored innon-volatile memory, such as read-only memory.

[0026] The present invention provides a solution to the above-mentionedproblems associated with existing fundraising schemes. In one aspect,the invention is an interactive web-enabled method and system foreducating solicitors, donors, participants and others involved in afundraising campaign about the campaign's mission. More specifically,the invention is a mission certification quiz that educates solicitors,donors, participants and others involved in a fundraising campaign aboutthe campaign's mission.

[0027] An object of the mission certification quiz is to educateparticipants of fundraising events to better understand the mission ofthe charitable, nonprofit and other organizations engaged in thefundraising campaign. Another object of the mission certification quizis to provide a scoring system on a personal web page to complement aparticipant's fundraising goal.

[0028] It is believed that a well-informed solicitor is more effectivein communicating to the potential donors about the campaign's mission.It is also believed that a potential donor who is well informed personabout the campaign's mission is more likely to make a charitabledonation. According to the invention, a participant accesses one or moreweb pages to learn about the mission of the fundraising campaign bytaking a mission certification quiz. In the preferred embodiment, theparticipant accesses the system using a personal computer linked to awide area network such as the Internet. The mission certification quizallows the participant to learn about the campaign's mission byanswering one or more questions included in the quiz. The questions aredesigned to increase the participant's knowledge and understanding ofthe campaign's mission.

[0029] Consider, for example, a scenario where a fundraising campaignseeks to raise money to support diabetes research. Consider further thatthe campaign has enrolled one or more solicitors that will solicitdonations from potential donors and supporters. In this scenario, itwould be desirable if the participants are well informed about diabetes,its consequences, and efforts to find a cure for the disease.

[0030] According to the invention, the participants take a missioncertification quiz comprising one or more questions related to diabetes.The participants are graded on the basis of the number of correctanswers received. At the conclusion the mission certification quiz, theparticipants' grades are shown in a mission certificate. The missioncertificate is a virtual certificate that is placed on a web page. Themission certificate assures a potential donor that the solicitor is wellinformed and knowledgeable about the mission. The mission certificatealso puts pressure on the solicitor to keep retaking the missioncertification quiz until he receives a good score.

[0031] A participant who is well informed about the campaign's missionis more likely to be able to influence a potential donor to make adonation or to make a larger donation than he would have otherwise. Theparticipant can impress the donor by his mission certificate score thatdemonstrates his knowledge and understanding about the subject matter.In contrast, an ill-informed participant will be less successful inconvincing a potential donor to make a contribution. Potential donorswill be hesitant to donate money to a charitable cause when the personseeking the donation is ill-informed about the campaign.

[0032] The invention also allows potential donors to take the quiz andconveniently learn more about the campaign or the cause. As potentialdonors become more informed about the campaign or the cause, they areinfluenced to make a donation or perhaps make a larger donation.Potential donors can also solicit other friends and family to makedonations.

[0033]FIG. 1 is a high-level flow diagram illustrating the basicsequence of the method steps of the invention. The flow starts in step104 and moves to step 108 where a user enters a personal donation page.An exemplary donation page is shown in FIG. 2 that includes informationabout the participant, the fundraising event and a mission certificate.The donation page also includes an honor roll recognizing one or moredonors, and one or more links to other related sites.

[0034] The donation page further includes a convenient means to email amessage with a link to the web page or the web page to another person.Thus, the user can inform friends and family about the fundraisingcampaign via emails and encourage them to participate in the campaign orto make a donation. The donation page further lists various suggestedrecommended levels of donation and means for a user to make his or herdonation.

[0035] In one embodiment, a mission certificate includes a scoreindicating the participant's knowledge about the fundraising mission.The score may include a percentage score and a corresponding grade. Forexample, in FIG. 2, a 30% score indicates that a participant's knowledgeis considered to be good. The participant can retake the quiz andimprove his score.

[0036] The mission certificate also includes the participant'sfundraising goal, i.e., the amount of money the participant intends toraise, and the amount raised. The donation page may include otherinformation, such as, for example, sponsorships or advertisements ofother businesses.

[0037] Referring back to FIG. 1, the flow moves to step 112, where auser elects to take a quiz. The quiz presents the user with one or morequestions related to the fundraising campaign. The quiz can bemultiple-choice type or true false type. The questions are designed totest the user's knowledge and familiarity about the mission of thefundraising campaign. In one embodiment, points are awarded for correctanswers, and no points are awarded for incorrect answers. In oneembodiment, when a participant provides an incorrect answer, the systemindicates that the answer is incorrect and then provides the correctanswer. Thus, the participant increases his knowledge and understandingabout the subject matter by taking the quiz. The system calculates thetotal score on the basis of the number of correct answers or thepercentage of correct answers, and the participant is awarded a grade.

[0038]FIG. 3 is an exemplary web page illustrating a quiz titleddiabetes trivia. The questions presented in the trivia are related todiabetes. The participant selects one of the provided answers, and isawarded a point value for a correct answer. Next, the flow moves to step116, where the accumulated score is presented. FIG. 4 shows the totalnumber of questions in the quiz, the number of correct answers, and theaccumulated score. In one embodiment, the accumulated score is convertedto a grade that is shown in the mission certificate. The flow ends atstep 120.

[0039]FIG. 5 is a detailed flow diagram of the method steps of theinvention. The flow starts in step 504 and moves to step 508, where aparticipant enters the donation page. The donation page has beendescribed in detail before. Next, the flow moves to step 512, where theparticipant decides whether to take a quiz. If the participant decidesto take the quiz, the flow moves to step 516, where a timer is set. Inone embodiment, the timer sets a predetermined time period within whichthe participant must answer each question.

[0040] Next, the flow moves to step 520, where a question is presented.In step 524, an answer is received from the participant. The quiz may bea multiple-choice type or a true-false type. In step 528, the systemdetermines if the answer was received within the allowed time period. Ifthe answer was received within the allowed time period, the flow movesto step 532, where it is determined if the answer was correct.

[0041] Referring back to FIG. 3, the timer indicates that theparticipant has 28 seconds remaining to answer a particular question. Inone embodiment, if the participant does not answer the question withinthe predetermined time period, then it is counted as an incorrectanswer.

[0042] If the answer is correct, the flow moves to step 536, where theparticipant is awarded a predetermined score. The system indicates thatthe answer is correct and the accumulated score goes up. If the answeris incorrect, no score is awarded and the system indicates the answer isincorrect, and the flow moves to step 540 where the correct answer isshown.

[0043] In step 544, the system checks if the participant has answeredall questions in the quiz. If there are remaining questions in the quiz,the flow returns to step 516 and the timer is reset. If there are noremaining questions in the quiz, a final score is displayed in step 548.In step 552, the participant is asked whether he wants to make adonation. If the participant wants to make a donation, then in step 556,he makes a donation. The flow ends in step 560.

[0044] In one embodiment, the system keeps track of the participants'score and identifies the top performers or top teams. For example, thesystem can identify the top five performers (or top five teams) based ontheir score and acknowledge them on a virtual plaque. The top performerscan be awarded prizes or other gifts. Such acknowledgement motivatesparticipants to learn more about the mission and increases the overallknowledge of all participants. This increases the effectiveness of theparticipants as they solicit donations.

[0045] In one embodiment, the system measures the time taken by theparticipants to answer the questions. More specifically, the timer keepstrack of the time taken to correctly answer each questions. If two ormore performers have same equal score, the system can identify the topperformer based on the amount of time taken to answer a particularquestion. Consider, for example, that two participants have identicalscores in the quiz and have each answered a particular questioncorrectly. The system then identifies the participant that took lesstime to answer the question and that participant is considered to be thehigher performer. In one embodiment, the system provides tie-breakerquestions to two or more participants or teams until a winningparticipant or team is found.

[0046] The invention motivates the participants (individuals or teams)to excel in the mission certification quiz because the top performersare acknowledged on the mission certificate. Furthermore participantsare motivated to excel in the quiz because a high score in the quiz willimpress a potential donor, which may result in more donation for thecampaign. Others are motivated to take the quiz because it providesentertainment and is a convenient way to enhance their knowledge of thesubject matter. In one embodiment, the invention allows participants togenerate questions for the mission certification quiz.

[0047] The invention can easily be adapted and used in live events ontelevision or other media, such as the Internet or the radio. The liveevents can be held as part of a fundraising campaign.

[0048] In one aspect, the invention is a system comprising a pluralityof elements. FIG. 6 is a system level diagram comprising one or more webpages 604. One of the web pages can be a personal donation page of aparticipant taking part in a fundraising campaign. The web page includesinformation about the fundraising campaign. The web page can belong toan organization engaged in a fundraising drive.

[0049] The system also includes a quiz 608. The quiz provides one ormore questions designed to test the knowledge of the participant aboutthe mission of the campaign. The quiz provides a plurality of answersfor each question, and the participant is asked to select the correctanswer. The participant receives a score for a correct answer. At thecompletion of the quiz, the final score is calculated. It should beunderstood that the elements of FIG. 6 can be incorporated into a singleweb page or into a plurality of web pages.

[0050] The system also includes a mission certificate 612 that displaysa final score and a grade. The final score is determined on the basis ofthe number of questions answered correctly. The mission certificate isdescribed in detail before. The system also includes one or more virtualplaques 616 that honor top performers of the mission certification quiz.The web page includes commercial sponsorships or advertisements 620 andlinks 624 to other sites.

[0051] In one embodiment, the program code for carrying out the steps inaccordance with the present invention can be stored in a storage mediumand made available for sale as a software program or a computer programproduct. For example, the program code can be stored in a compact disk(CD), a magnetic tape, or any other type of storage medium. Amanufacturer can make the software program available for sale so thatindividuals and business entities may purchase or otherwise obtain thesoftware program to set up an automated, on-line donation processingsystem.

[0052] Although the preferred embodiments have been described, it shouldbe understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations canbe made herein without departing from the scope of the presentinvention. For example, although the present invention has beendescribed and illustrated primarily in relation to Internetapplications, it should be understood that the present invention is inno way limited to only the Internet and may be implemented on othernetworks also. Furthermore, it should be noted that the presentinvention can be implemented using virtually any computer system orother networking system and virtually any available programminglanguage. Thus the implementation of the present invention is notlimited to the computer network illustrated in this document. Otherexamples of changes, substitutions, and alterations are readilyascertainable by one skilled in the art and could be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention as definedby the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A web-based method for educating solicitors,donors, participants and others involved in a fundraising campaign aboutthe campaign's mission, the method using an online quiz to entertain andeducate the persons involved in the campaign, comprising: taking, on thewebsite, a mission certification quiz by answering one or morequestions, wherein the questions are designed to test a participant'sknowledge about the campaign's mission; and determining a final scorebased on the number of correct answers; and creating a missioncertificate on the website based on the final score, wherein the methodmotivates the persons involved in the campaign to learn about themission by the mission certificate.
 2. The method according to claim 1,further comprising: starting a timer prior to presenting the question,the timer being set for a predetermined amount of time allowed for eachquestion; providing a question; selecting an answer to the question,wherein the answer is selected from one or more answers provided; and ifa correct answer is selected before the expiration of the timer, thenonly awarding a score for each correct answer.
 3. The method accordingto claim 2, further comprising: determining if there are additionalquestions in the quiz; if there are additional questions in the quiz,then answering the questions; if the are no remaining questions in thequiz, then determining a final score; determining a grade on the basisof the final score; and indicating the final score and the grade on themission certificate.
 4. The method according to claim 3, furthercomprising: determining one or more top performers among the pluralityof participants of the mission certification quiz based on the finalscores; and acknowledging the top performers on a virtual plaque.
 5. Themethod according to claim 3, further comprising determining one or moretop performers of the mission certification quiz based on the amount oftime taken to complete the quiz.
 6. The method according to claim 3,further comprising determining one or more top performers of the missioncertification quiz based on the points awarded in the quiz.
 7. Themethod according to claim 3, further comprising awarding one or moreprizes to the top performers.
 8. The method according to claim 4,further comprising determining, if a correct answer is received beforethe expiration of the timer, the amount of time taken to answer thequestion.
 9. The method according to claim 5, further comprisingdetermining the top performers based on the least amount of time takento answer the questions correctly.
 10. The method according to claim 3,further comprising: asking if the participant wants to make a charitabledonation; and receiving a charitable donation.
 11. A web-based systemhaving a mission certification quiz for educating solicitors, donors,participants and others involved in a fundraising campaign about thecampaign's mission, the system using an online quiz to entertain andeducate the persons involved in the campaign, comprising: means forproviding one or more questions on the web site, wherein the questionsare designed to test a participant's knowledge about the campaign'smission; means for selecting one or more answers on the web site,wherein an answer is selected from the one or more answers provided;means for determining a final score based on the number of correctanswers; and a mission certificate on the web site based on the finalscore.
 12. The system according to claim 11, further comprising: a timerset for a predetermined amount of time allowed for each question; and ascore awarded only if a correct answer is received before the expirationof the timer.
 13. The system according to claim 11, further comprising:means for providing additional questions in the quiz; means forselecting one or more answers to the questions; means for determining afinal score based on the accumulated score; means for determining agrade on the basis of the final score; and a mission certificate forindicating the final score and the grade.
 14. The system according toclaim 13, further comprising: means for determining one or more topperformers among the plurality of participants of the missioncertificate quiz based on the final scores; and one or more virtualplaques for acknowledging the top performers.
 15. A computer-readablemedium having computer executable instructions for performing aweb-based method for educating solicitors, donors, participants andothers involved in a fundraising campaign about the campaign's mission,the method using an online quiz to entertain and educate the personsinvolved in the campaign, comprising: taking, on the website, a missioncertification quiz by answering one or more questions, wherein thequestions are designed to test a participant's knowledge about thecampaign's mission; and determining a final score based on the number ofcorrect answers; and creating a mission certificate on the website basedon the final score, wherein the method motivates the persons involved inthe campaign to learn about the mission by the mission certificate. 16.The computer-readable medium for performing the web-based methodaccording to claim 15, further comprising: starting a timer prior topresenting the question, the timer being set for a predetermined amountof time allowed for each question; providing a question; selecting ananswer to the question, wherein the answer is selected from one or moreanswers provided; and if a correct answer is selected before theexpiration of the timer, then only awarding a score for each correctanswer.
 17. The computer-readable medium for performing the web-basedmethod according to claim 16, further comprising: determining if thereare additional questions in the quiz; if there are additional questionsin the quiz, then answering the questions; if the are no remainingquestions in the quiz, then determining a final score; determining agrade on the basis of the final score; and indicating the final scoreand the grade on the mission certificate.
 18. The computer-readablemedium for performing the web-based method according to claim 15,further comprising: determining one or more top performers among theplurality of participants of the mission certificate quiz based on thefinal scores; and acknowledging the top performers on a virtual plaque.19. The method according to claim 1, further comprising allowingparticipants to generate questions for the quiz.
 20. The systemaccording to claim 11, wherein the participants generate questions forthe quiz.
 21. The method according to claim 7, wherein the topperformers are individual participants.
 22. The method according toclaim 7, wherein the top performers are the top teams.
 23. The systemaccording to claim 14, wherein top performers are individualparticipants.
 24. The system according to claim 14, wherein the topperformers are the top teams.